“Malesani is not a saviour,” warned the President on Radio Radio. “He just came here to bring a sense of calm to the environment.

“I know him well, as I wanted him at Venezia, but he then decided to join Fiorentina. The squad is strong and we have brought in solid elements.

“I hope to see the new Argentine players settle in, as on Sunday they were thrown straight into the starting XI in the most important game of the season and some of them hadn’t played for months. For that, I will never forgive Gasperini or Lo Monaco.”

A group of angry fans attacked Zamparini’s car yesterday, but he insists they were only a minority.

“There were only about 50 people protesting. I said I’d leave at the first sign of violence, but I won’t quit now because that was not the real Palermo.

“I have nothing to prove to anyone. I’ve been here for 10 years and think I have given a great deal to this team. It is as if your family turns its back on you at your first mistake.

“Our fans are not the ones who came here to protest. People stop me in the street and ask me to stay. Those from yesterday are too young and do not know the history of this club.

“Besides, why are they insulting me and lauding Lo Monaco? When he arrived we were third-from-bottom, while now we are propping up the table.”